Hair roller and integral clip

ABSTRACT

A hair roller is disclosed which includes an integral clip movable on a center post extending through the hair roller.

United States Patent .11 1

Petri HAIR ROLLER AND INTEGRAL CLIP [76] Inventor: George W. Petri, 347 E. Main 81..

Lexington, Ky. 40507 1221 Filed: July 16, 1913 [21] Appl. No.2 379,629

52 us. c1. 132/40 158 Field of Search 132/40, 42, 37, 39, 46, 132/48 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1941 Luengcn 132 40v 1911111151111. iiiaiiiiiiiiiggggg 1'1.'A'L'JM'A'JJ!MW 14 1 Jan. 28, 1975 Locwcnstcin 132/40 Hummcl l32/40 Primary Ii.\'umim'rG. E. McNcill Allurnqv. Agem. or Firm-H. Gordun Shields 7 1571 ABSTRACT A hair roller is disclosed which includes an integral l clip movable on a center post extending through the huir r0ller.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 HAIR ROLLER AND INTEGRAL CLIP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION about eleven different sizes of rollers or hair formers used by beauticians and by individuals. There are also numerous sizes of clips or retainers for use with the hair rollers. Typically, the hair rollers are made of plastic and are of a cylindrical configuration, with various size diameters and lengths. The rollers are as open as possible to allow maximum flow of air through the roller and through the hair rolledor formed thereon. There are also other rollers made of wire, having the similar cylindrical configuration. These rollers generally include some type of friction apparatus integral with the rollers, such as radially extending filaments or fine hair-like stiffeners which extend slightly outwardly from the cylindrical body portion of the roller. The filaments, or radially extending members, engage the hair of the user of such type of roller. These kinds of rollers also require some type of clip or retainer in order to secure them to the user's hair.

- There are other types of rollers, such as ceramic rollers with integral radially extending protuberances. These types of rollers are generally used in conjunction with heating elements. Like the other types of rollers, these too require some type of clip or retainer to secure the hair of the user to the roller. 1

lt is not unlikely that an individual will have some or all of the above described types of rollers. As a matter of fact, it is rather likely that an individual will have more than one type of roller. As indicated, each type of roller requires some type of clip or retainer in order to use the roller. Accordingly, there are probably at least as many varieties of clips or retainers as there are rollers. Thus, when a person desires to use a roller to put up her hair, she must select not only the type or size of roller which she desires, but she must also select from a myriad of clips an appropriate clip for each individual roller.

At home and in a beauty shop, the selection of the rollers and the various clips or retainers is a time consuming task. It has been estimated that in a professional beauty shop about one-third of a beauticians hairrolling time is consumed in selecting an appropriate size clip for each roller and in applying clips to each roller. It will be understood that each roller generally requires a pair of clips, or one clip at each end, in order to satisfactorily retain the users hair on each roller.

With the present invention, the need for selecting and pinning or retaining the hair of the user to each roller is obviated by the use of integral clips with the rollers. Each roller is provided with a pair of clips, one at each end. Thus the problems and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome by having the roller and clips as an integral apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON The invention described and claimed herein comprises a cylindrically configured hair roller which includes a pair of clips movable on a pair of center posts centrally located and axially extending within the rollet. The clips are biased inside the roller and accordingly do not interfere with the user of the roller while hair is being wound about the roller. At such time as the rolling operation has been completed, the clips are removed from the inside of the roller and are used to retain the hair on the roller by the cooperation of a movable clip member outside the roller and a fixed member inside the roller.

Among the objects of the present invention are the following:

To provide a new and useful hair roller;

To provide a new and useful hair roller having an integral clip;

To providea new and useful hair roller which includes a pair of retainer clips integral with the roller;

-To provide a new and useful hair roller apparatus including hair retaining apparatus disposed within the roller apparatus;

To provide newand useful hair roller apparatus including an axially extending center post with hair retaining apparatus movable on the center post.

BRlEF DES CRlPTlON OF THE DRAWING FlG. l is an isometric view in partial section of apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2-.-2 of FlG. 1.

FIG. 3 is anenlarged fragmentary view in partial section illustrating the operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRlPTlON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.

FIG 1 comprises an isometricview of hair roller and clip apparatus embodying the present invention. Hair roller apparatus 10 includes a cylindrical body 12 which includes a plurality of apertures 14. The apertures extend through the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body 12 is preferably made of plastic and is in the configuration of a cylinder or a tube, and hollow on its interior. The term hollow refers to the configuration of the cylindrical body 12 and does not indicate that the interior of the cylindrical body 12 is without any solid members. As will be discussed, there are other members or portions of the hair roller apparatus 10 which are disposed and located within the cylindrical body 12.

The plurality of apertures 14 which extend through the cylindrical body, allow and provide for the flow of air through the hair roller apparatus and through the hair of the user of the apparatus which is to be rolled thereon.

At about the mid-point of the cylindrical body 12, with respect'to its axial length, there is an interior wall l6which extends radially and diametrally through the center of cylindrical body 12. The interior wall 16 includes a plurality of apertures 18 which extend through the wall and provide means for enhancing the flow of air through the interior of the cylindrical body into an upper interior portion 20'and a lower interior portion 22.

Within the upper portion 20 of the cylindrical body 12 is a center post 30. The center post 30 extends axially of the cylindrical body 12 and is located centrally within the cylinder. The center post is disposed on a boss 32 which is secured to, or is a part of, the interior wall 16. The center post 30 extends upwardly and terminates just slightly above or outside the cylinder 12.

A top or end cap 34 surmounts the center post 30. The top or end cap 34 is slightly larger in diameter than the center post and is preferably, but not necessarily, integral with the center post. Secured to and movable on the center post is a clip 38. The clip 38 includes-a guide 40 which is movable on center post 30. A fixed member 42 is secured to the guide 40 and is accordingly movable with it. The fixed member is disposed within the upper interior portion 20 between the center post and the cylindrical body 12. An offset portion 44 is located on a fixed member 42 remote from the guide 40. The offset portion includes a pair of elements extending outwardly from the fixed member. Above the offset portion 44 is upper portion 43 of the fixed member 40, which is the part of the fixed member grasped when using the clip.

A movable retainer member 50 cooperates with the fixed member 42 to hold hair wound about the clip in place thereon. The movable retainer member includes an offset portion 52, a lower portion 54, and an upper end portion 55. The movable retainer member may be of any appropriate configuration, but it preferably includes a slight curve 53 between offset 52 and lower portion 54 and, when in place, the lower elongated. portion 54 which is substantially parallel to the cylindrical body 12. Adjacent the upper end 55 of the movable retainer member 50 is the offset portion 52, which includes a pair of members extending inwardly with respect to the interior of the hair roller apparatus from the movable retainer member 50. The offset portion 52 cooperates with the offset portion 44 of the fixed member 42 by being positioned between the outwardly extending members which comprise the offset portion. The offset portions 44 and 52 are secured together by a pin 46. The movable retainer member 50 thus pivots on pin 46. A spring 56 is disposed about the pin 46 and provides an inward bias for the lower portion 54.

When not in use, the movable retainer member 50 is disposed within the cylindrical body 12, and'is biased downwardly (with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2) towards interior wall 16 by a compression spring 36 which is disposed between clip guide 40 and top cap 34. After hair has been wound about the cylindrical body of the hair roller apparatus, the fixed member 42 and movable retainer member 50 of the clip is moved axially along center post 30 until the lower portion 54 of movable retainer member 50 clears the top or end of the cylindrical body 12. At such time as the movable retainer member is clear of the cylindrical body, the movable retainer member is moved against the bias of spring 56 by a gentle squeezing of the upper portions 43 and 55 of the fixed member and the movable member, respectively, to thus allow the'movable retainer to be moved in place over the hair wound on the roller. The clip is then moved downwardly or inwardly with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2 and with respect to the cylindrical body,- which more or less is axially along the center post 30, until the clip is in place as desiredQThe movable retainer member is then released and under the bias of spring 56 the lower portion 54 is urged against the hair and against the cylindrical body 12, thus holding the hair in place.

Within the lower interior portion 22 of the cylindrical body 12 is substantially the same apparatus and members as has been discussed.above,'including a center post with its top cap and a clip with its guide, fixed member, movable retainer member, and the appropriate biasing springs with respect to the center post and to'the fixed and movable retainer members. Thus there is a clip disposed at each end of the cylindrical body for use as required.

FIG. 2 is a view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and somewhat enlarged. In FIG. 2, the entire clip apparatus 38 is shown disposed withinv the cylindrical body 12.

Cylindrical body 12 is shown inpartial section, with a plurality of apertures 14 extending therethrough. Central wall 16, with its apertures 18, is shown extending diametrally across cylinder body 12 on the interior thereof and separating the interior into upper interior portion 20 and lower interior portion 22. Extending upwardly from a boss 32 centrally located with respect to interior wall 16 is center post 30. Top cap 34 surmounts the center post 30 and is located slightly above the cylinder 12. Extending downwardly from interior wall 16 is another boss and another center post for clip apparatus disposed within lower interior portion 22. See also FIG. 1.

The clip portion 38 of the hair roller apparatus 10 is shown disposed within the upper interior portion 20 of cylindrical body 12. The clip includes a clip guide 40 which is movable on center post 30, a fixed member 42 secured to the clip guide 40, and a movable retainer member 50. The movable retainer member and the fixed member are secured together by a pin 46 which extends through mutually cooperating offset portions 44 and 52 of the fixed member and the movable retainer member, respectively, the lower portion 54 of the movable retainer 50 is biased outwardly against the force of spring 56 and is thus pivoted on pin 46 in order to move the lower portion 54 outwardly to utilize the clip with respect to the retaining of hair wound about the cylindrical body 12. As will be understood, it is first necessary to raise the clip portion of the hair roller apparatus upwardly against the bias of compression spring 30 in order to allow. the tip of lower portion 54 to clear the top of cylinder 12 prior to pivoting the movable retainer member for use.

I FIG. 3 comprises an enlarged fragmentary view, in partial section, of a portion of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2. Hair roller apparatus 10 is shown with clip 38' extended out from the cylindrical body 12.

Center post 30 is shown within cylindrical body 12, with a plurality of apertures 14 extending through the cylindrical body. A portion of the cylindrical body has been cut away in the figure to show clip guide 40 extended to its uppermost or outermost position on the center post 30 within the upper interior portion 20 of the cylindrical body 12.

Compression spring 36 is compressed substantially to its minimum length position or maximum compression position, between clip guide 40 and top or end cap 34 of the center post 30. Fixed member 42, secured to clip guide 40, extends outwardly from the cylindrical body. The elongated lower portion 54 of the movable retainer member 50 is shown extending outwardly from the cylindrical body 12, and accordingly is in position to function to retain hair on the cylindrical body. In order for the movable retainer member to be in the position shown, pressure of a squeezing nature must be applied to upper portion 43 of the fixed member 42 and to the upper portion 55 of the movable retainer member 50. Such pressure, as previously discussed, causes the movable retainer member 50 to pivot on pin 46 which extends between the offset portions 44 and 52'of the fixed member and movable retainer member, respectively.

At such time as the squeezing pressure has been applied with the clip 39 in its outer position, as shown in FIG. 3, the clip 38 is then ready to function to retain hair about the cylindrical body 12 and to be returned within and without upper interior portion of the cylindrical body 12. To accomplish this, the clip 38 will 3 be moved along center post with the lower portion 54 of the movable retainer member 50 disposed outside the cylindrical body 12.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operative requirements without departing from. those principles. For example, the cylindrical body of the hair roller apparatus may be of a different design configuration than shown, with different size or design apertures or the, like. Moreover, while a one-piece construction has been illustrated for the cylindrical body and its center post, it is obvious that other appropriate designs could be used. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.

This specification and the appended claims have been prepared in accordance with the applicable patent laws and the rules promulgated under the authority thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Hair roller apparatus comprising, in combination:

a cylindrical body including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough;

aninterior wall extending diametrally within said cylindrical body;

center post means located centrally and extending axially within said cylindrical body from said interior wall; and

clip means movable on said center post means for retaining hair wound about said cylindrical body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the clip means includes:

a clip guide movable on said center post means;

a fixed member secured to said clip guide and movable therewith; and

a movable retainer member pivotly secured to the fixed member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the center post means further includes a top cap on said center post and spring meansextending about said center post between the top cap and the clip guide. 7

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the center post means include a pair of center posts extending coaxially within said cylindricalbody from the interior wall, and the clip means includes a pair of clips, each of which is movable on one of the pair of center posts. 

1. Hair roller apparatus comprising, in combination: a cylindrical body including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough; an interior wall extending diametrally wIthin said cylindrical body; center post means located centrally and extending axially within said cylindrical body from said interior wall; and clip means movable on said center post means for retaining hair wound about said cylindrical body.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the clip means includes: a clip guide movable on said center post means; a fixed member secured to said clip guide and movable therewith; and a movable retainer member pivotly secured to the fixed member.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the center post means further includes a top cap on said center post and spring means extending about said center post between the top cap and the clip guide.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the center post means include a pair of center posts extending coaxially within said cylindrical body from the interior wall, and the clip means includes a pair of clips, each of which is movable on one of the pair of center posts. 